Target trap



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,880

H. P. CAMP TARGET TRAP Filed Dec. 10. 1926 2 Sheets-$heet l Feb. 5, 1929. 1,700,880

H. P. CAMP TARGET TRAP Filed Dec. 10. 1926 2 Sheets-S heet Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY P. CAMP, OF ALTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNGR TO WESTERN CARTRIDGE COMPANY, OF EAST ALTON, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TARGET TRAP.

Application filed December It), 1926.

This invention pertains to target throwing devices, and more particularly to hand thrower for clay targets such as are used for trap shooting practice.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple device by means of which a clay target can be thrown from the hand in an eticetive manner.

Another ohgeet is to provide such a hand target thrower by which the target may he delivered with a sharp whipping action.

Another object is to provide such a thrower which will cause the target to leave the thrower with a rotary or whirling movement.

Another object is to provide a target thrower which may he used with either the right or left hand for throwing a target.

Further objects will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fl llflllO 1 is a front view ot a target thrower embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a right-hat] d side view of Figure 1 Figure 3 ure 1 Figure 4. ure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are sections on lines 5-5 and d d, rerpwtively. o't Figu e 1:

Figure 7 is a trout view of a ta Tet thrower showing another tl'illlfiulllltllt of this invention Figure 8 is a right-hand side view of a portion of Figure 7; and

l ignre fl is 1 trout View. similar to Figure 7, showing another embodiment of this invention.

Referring; to the drawing. 1. designates a handle of wood or other suitable material. by means ot' which the device is manipu ated. n the end (it the handle 1 is mounted or (oi-nu a resilient extension 2, which may be ennstrurtwl ot' a ieng'th of prim;- wire formed tlll'l or loop :3. liigidly formed or d on the end of the extension 2, and

the loop 3. is an arm 4. This arm is is a section on line 33 of Figis a section on line et4 of Fig into moun hey in,

med so as to provide top and bottom guides el \l. spaced from each other so as to permit the flange T ot the target 8 to pass between such guides. The arm 4 and its guides may he formed by bending the wire into the term shown in the figures; or it may be con- Serial No. 153,793.

structed of sheet metal suitably formed, or by other means. There is thus provided a rigid arm 4 at the end of a flexible handle and extending in prolongation thereof.

ll lounted on the arm 1 is a pivot support 9, which has pivoted thereto at- 10 a second arm 11. fhe arm 11 may be constructed of she t metal or other suitable material and is pivoted so as to move in substantially the same plane as the guides 5 and 6. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the arm 11 has a channel form adapted to receive the target between its flanges. In Figures 7 and 9, the arm 11 tint and arranged to provide a backing ey'ainst which the target may rest. One or the other of the arms 1 or 11 may be provided with an abutment 12, which is perforated to permit the aassage therethrough of an adjusting rod 13. This rod is formed with a hook eye 14, which engages the other arm. The free end of the rod 13 is surrounded hy a spring 15, which bears at one end against the abutn'ient 12 and is retained at its other end by an adjustin; nut 16 threaded on the end of the rod.

The spring provides means for tensioning the arm 11 so as to urge the same towards the arm 4. in order to grip the target. A stop 17 termed on the arm 11 is adapted to engage a stop on the pivot support 9, or other suit able abutment on the arm 4-, so as to limit the in ward movement of the arm 11. The end of the arm 11 has mounted thereon a pin 18, surrounded by a rubber collar 19 or other suital'ile friction member.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the arms 1 and 11 are both termed so as to be symmetrical w th respect to the plane of the The target can, therefore, be placed in the thrower between the arms 4 and 11 in either position: that so as to face either v-Jay. This is made possible by the svniretrh ('nl ronst action of the arms. In this:' embodiment also the loop I. is formed o'l two loops of wire oppositely coiled, as shown in Figure 13. This renders the handle equally flexible in either direction.

lit the use oi this device, the target 8 is placed with its flange between the guides 53 and 6 and its flat side resting upon the guide, and the arm 11 in Figures 7 and 9. The arm 11 is drawn to the left against the tension of the spring 15, in order to insert the target, and is then released so as to bring; the abutinent 19 into engagement with the rim of the target. The target is then resilient'l held or clamped between the two arms. The ope:- at or, then grasping the end of the hmzdle 1 swings the device to the rear and then forvvatfd; and upwardly with a quick whipping movement. During the acceleration of the deviee, the loop 123 permits the handle to flex under the force applied by the ope tor. Towards the end ofthe swing, the resilienov of the loop 13 brings the arms forward with a sharp whippino' action so as to force the target out of the thrower. In leaving the device the target slides along the guides and (3 while the frictional engagement with the ahutinent 19 retards that side oi the tar'w l. eon cquently the tar et is relesed with :2 roliirgx IllUYGtDxDi which causes it to spin during subsequent flight;

It will be seen that this in; rtion provides a simple and inexpensiv t 'et throwing device, and one which i etlea-tive in action. The target is easily ins 1i ted la-tween the arms and is securely held until th end of the throwing luovemenh when it is r-eiemed with a rotary movement. The nut it? provides for adjustment of the tension of the arm 11, so as to adjust not only the frietion at the ahutment 15), but :tlso the 't'o-rce with which the target is held in the arms.

It obvious that various ehang'es may he made in detnila of eonstriwtion witho it departing from the spirit of this invention; it is therefore, to he understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and descrioed.

Hav'ng: thus described this invention, what claii ml is:

A hand target throw 1', (()1111')Yi8l11{, a tlenihle handle, an arm rigidly connected with siid handle and providing a guide for the it, a second arm pivoted on said handle t aeent said first arm and having a friction abutment adapted to engage the target, and means for tensioning said second arm, said arms having target-engaging elements symmetrically formed with respect to the plane of the target.

A hand target throvmr conu rising); u iiexihle wire handle having oppositely -oi ed spring loops termed therein. and at target holder rarried by id handle having its parts svnnnetrieally positioned with re -ipect to ti 9 plane of the target.

3. A hand turgg ot thrower comprising a fiexihle handle, an arm rigidlyconnected with said l lie and having a pair of guide I'llil-l eyuum-tricz ll noeit oned with respect to the plane of the ta 1 and adapted to receive tl-e tar et, and a set-end itl'lii pivoted adjacent Paid first arm and having a trietion abutment ned to engage llli target.

t. A hand target thrower, comprising; :i flexible handle of wire, an arm on said handle termed of a wire looped hack upon itself to term pa 'allel guide rai and a second arm pivoted to said first arm and having a friction abutment tcns ioned to engage the target.

in testi-nmny whereof I ati x my signature this 19th day of November, 1926.

HENRY P. Cikitll 

